install amp in engine bay compartment???
 

I have seen a couple boats with marine amps installed in the engine bay compartment. Has anyone else done this? I like the idea. I would rather not run 20' of power and ground wire to the cabin. However I am looking for thoughts and opinions on this.

Personally I would try and avoid it. The engine bay can be wet, but is almost always hot. Heat is not an amps friend.

i wouldnt because of the heat....

i personally would run & did run 0g to the cabin.

but i have seen amps in the engine compartment & they seem to work fine.

I would avoid it. Some amps use relays, which would not be CG approved and could be very bad (ignition risk).

I ran mine using 2 ga jumper cable wire ($40 for 40' of wire). Just bought a set of cables and cut off the ends.

that is a good idea! Jumpers could easily handle the current flow and are way cheaper than wire by the foot. Shows how we get raped as consumers.

Ok, so how about under the aft bench seat?

or go to attwoods and buy welding cable.. its a LOT more flexible and its cheap as can be.

Under the back seat is a much better option. That is where I have my amps.

Thanks for the input Griff. Since I have a battery installed underneath the seat it seems to me to be the next most logical place to put it.

I've seen it done several ways. No doubt the cabin is a dryer environment. If you are a serious performance guy (like most people here) be aware that weight carried forward of the CG may slow your boat down. Under the back seat is probably a good compromise.
I have run an Audiobahn amp in my engine compartment for years with absolutely no issues (heat/water/etc), however that may not be true with every boat. I have a friend who installed a big system with the amp in the cuddy and he swears it has slowed his boat down. I think he is correct. My portapottie installs on brackets under my v berth. Whenever I have it onboard, with water in the upper and/or lower section, it knocks 1 to 2 MPH off my usual #s.
FYI,
Steve

I've seen a really nice fountain for sale on here with a few amps installed in the engine compartment.

We did it for years and never had a problem, although the amps we bought always had large cooling fans on them.

I have 2 Sony marine amps in the engine compartment. They are mounted pretty much to the rear seat back. The "marine" part of the name makes me feel a little better about the environment they are in. In a 25' boat you run out of room real quick, especially since we treat it like a camper and like to stay out all weekend.
Three years and no issues... knock on wood.

I have my amps in the cuddy. I use a storage Capacitor to compensate for the wire run.

I just got done installing my stereo , and it was a real pain in the ARSSS ...... I ran 0 gage power and ground wire from battery to cabin. Wanted to install under back seat but did not want to give up easy access storage. I opted to throw a box in my extreme bow as well with 3 twelves in it . (its heavy as hell) I wonder how much mph I'm losing ..... Just do not know if i can get the same sound by putting subs in the cockpit..

The fore and aft CG on a boat is like the pivot point on a see-saw. The further forward the weight is from the pivot point (CG), as well as the total additional weight, the more it impacts lift. More wetted surface =s more drag. Unfortunately I think you will see a difference.
Conversely, weight carried aft of the CG will have less performance effect. It may cause some additional drag as you are increasing your total weight to HP ratio, and some additional bowrise during plane off.
But it sounds like you have a kick azz stereo system that will make the young ladies shake their azzes :grinser010::drink:.
Regards,
Steve

Just installed Eton ecc 300.2 car amplifier in engine compartment.
I have only this dry place in my sea ray 185.
I hope It will work well.

No problems here with amps in the engine conpartment

Thank you. I'm going to test my installation today.

The jl marine amps still suffered from gain pot failures with humidity present. Fosgates, power supply shorts.
If all your exposed fasteners in the engine bay look clean , esp the merc fuse junction by the starter , then go for it . If not , then I would relocate to dry area, if you want reliability.

Get a bigger amp than you need and it won't work as hard = less heat so it won't overheat in a compartment

agreed... My subs amp is overkill and bilge mounted... No problems. The JL amp for my mid/highs is not located in a well vented area and up against output demands. It causes me grief sometimes. Go big or go home

I've roasted a lot of amplifiers.
Each and every roasted amplifier was damaged by heat.

I would SERIOUSLY avoid installing in the engine compartment. Even if you are running "marine amps", that's not a USCG rating that they are spark proof. Now, I don't expect a spark out of ANY amp, automotive, marine, or otherwise. Typically "marine" electronics mean the circuit boards are coated in something. Well, guess what that coating does? It retains heat. So now you are creating a perfect storm of how to destroy your amp; and now potentially cause a spark and/or fire. Where? In your engine compartment where you don't want sparks or fire.

Under the back seat may not be so good either, since many of us have our fuel tank access ports there? Why not here? Well that's self explanatory. Yes, batteries and inverters/chargers are installed here often too, but why multiply your risk?

Install the amps somewhere in the cabin. Run a single BIG 0-AWG cable to your amp location, and put a capacitor in there. I liked the Rockford Fosgate Digital Capacitors for this because it's a nice clean install, AND its a power distribution block, where you can break out 4-AWG cables to your amplifiers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rockford-Fos...-/151450492782